Tag: Travel Guide

Being stressed and angled for minutes, my elbow pit started to feel uncomfortable. My palms were itching too, yet I couldn’t let go of my grip. I could also feel my calf and feet trembling, but resting them was not among the choices. For some reasons, commuting was pretty difficult on that part of Samar on Holy Week. I was hanging at the back of the jeepney, breaking a leg, while on my way to Allen from Calbayog’s Maguino-o Pier. Since I shared space of the narrow metal extension with another passenger, my torment did not end there. I had ... Read more

The sky was perfect. It wasn’t all blue. The blinding-white clouds formed interesting figures and were moving at slow pace. It provided a minute shade every time it hovered above our smoothly-moving fast craft. The sea, on the other hand, was completely placid, reflecting the exact copies of the figures above it. The minor distortions created by the surface swimmers are very evident – I could see the finest ripple. It was our fast craft’s horn that woke me from that real daydream. We were approaching Liloan Pier in Santander, so I had to get myself ready. In a moment, ... Read more

The modern day Siem Reap, a home to 9th-century temples, is an archaeological haven. Antique enthusiasts flock to this humble yet vibrant city to witness the grandeur it once have. Though all that is left are empty structures and rubbles of the angkors (or temples), people from around the world are still interested and curious. Some scholars said that secrets lurk in every walls and corners of the temples in Siem Reap. The construction techniques and the murals talk about extraordinary assistance that shape these marvels. The sky was painted with all shades of orange and red as the sun ... Read more

Above were grey haze. The horizon was inevident and the people around seemed copying the murky atmosphere. The gloomy surroundings, however, suddenly changed when we arrived in Bais City. We broke the city’s silence. Laughing out loud to the corniest of jokes, that was. Locals were curious, pointing all eyes in slow moving trike we were on. where’s the camera, really! Manjuyod Island Hopping and Dolphin Watching We reached the Capiñahan Wharf past 8AM and there were few boats left to bring us to our sojourn. Without any hesitation, we agreed to rent the smaller boat with the lowest rate. ... Read more

Spending a night or two below the ground, in a chamber where no sunlight could penetrate is not among my bucket list entries. Whenever I travel, I always look for blue sky, green massifs, white beach, aquamarine deep, and vivid sunsets, so I never imagine myself camping in deep caverns. However, my strong sense of adventure dominated over my preference to vibrancy and colors. Thus, I said yes to the Gobingob and Langun Cave Connection and Spelunking invite. I tried spelunking before when I visited Sagada, but we spent only 4 to 6 hours in Lumiang and Sumaguing Caves. Gobingob ... Read more

Each boat can carry a maximum of five guests. We carefully sat on our respective slots, with our seats at heel level. A watchman was seated in front; our guide was positioned at the end seat, while the captain stood near the rear bow. Since there are no outriggers, it shook a lot when we started hopping in. However, as it started moving, the boat was steady and smooth. The bumps and shakes on the rapids were the most anticipated. That feeling brought by sudden adrenaline pump when you are abruptly tossed is something to look forward to. On-board the ... Read more

One Friday eve, I went to Cebu’s port and boarded a ferry bound for Palompon, Leyte. Everything happened on random, and I had no fix itinerary in mind. But what I had been thinking that moment was spending a beach camp in Kalanggaman, an island floating off the coast of the boat’s destination. Short Introduction of my Random Trip The dawn chilled a bit as I walk around Palompon. The town was deeply asleep, except for the few “sikad” (rickshaw) drivers who were busy attending the new arrivals, and some teens who enjoyed staying late for some reasons. I realized that 2:30AM ... Read more

Laiya is one of Manila’s closest beaches. Just hop on a bus from any major terminals in the metro, and then within 3 to 4 hours, you will find yourself photo bombing the picture-perfect ivory strip of Batangas province. Laiya is also close to the Batangas’ tastiest lomihan and gotohan, so don’t forget to drop by during your visit. Just another jump shot fail How to get to Laiya Via San Juan The fastest way to Laiya is via San Juan. Take ALPS Bus from either EDSA Nepa Q-Mart, Araneta Center Cubao, or Alabang Grand Terminal to San Juan, Batangas. The earliest ... Read more

Yogyakarta, a host to temples which beginnings are even earlier than the construction of Khmer Empire’s Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, is a testament to Indonesia’s rich and extensive history. Aside from the temples, travelers could experience the best of Indonesia’s cuisine, night life, and hospitality in Yogyakarta. It is pronounced and commonly spelled as Jogjakarta. Locals simply call it Jogja /JOGH-jah/. Yogyakarta does not limit to being a center of tourism. Indonesia considers the region as the leading proponent of the preservation of classical Javanese fine arts and cultural heritage and symbols. The highest tier of Candi Borobudur is adorned ... Read more